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Yes—Cities: Skylines is available on Switch 2 as the separate Expanded Edition, released October 28, 2026. It is the original city builder, not Cities: Skylines II. Switch 2 adds a 25-tile buildable limit, editing and placement tools, keyboard-and-mouse support, and 10 bundled DLC items. Its Performance Option targets 60 FPS, while Quality Option targets 30 FPS; those are publisher targets, not independently measured locked frame rates.

PC remains the clearest choice for Steam Workshop maps, buildings and mods. PS5 offers the Remastered edition with a 25-tile ceiling and similar interface upgrades. Switch 2 is the only one of these editions designed for TV, tabletop and handheld play.

At a glance

Name Best for Key spec Platforms Checked
Switch 2 — Expanded Edition Portable play and controller or keyboard-and-mouse input 25 tiles; Performance Option targets 60 FPS; 10 DLC items included Nintendo Switch 2; TV, tabletop and handheld modes Oct 2026
PC — Steam original Steam Workshop maps, assets and mods Windows, macOS and Linux; 8 GB RAM minimum, 16 GB recommended on Windows Windows, macOS, Linux Oct 2026
PS5 — Remastered PlayStation players wanting the 25-tile remaster 25 tiles; graphical and performance improvements advertised PlayStation 5 Oct 2026

Sources: Paradox Interactive’s Switch 2 announcement, the PS5 Remastered announcement, Nintendo’s product listing and Steam’s Cities: Skylines listing.

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Is Cities: Skylines on Switch 2?

Yes. The Switch 2 version is a distinct digital release called Cities: Skylines — Expanded Edition. Nintendo lists Switch 2 as the system and supports TV, tabletop and handheld play. The US Nintendo listing specifies a 6 GB download and identifies the product as digital; it does not verify a retail cartridge.

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The Expanded Edition is separate from the older Nintendo Switch edition. Nintendo also lists that older game as playable on Switch 2 with the notice: “Supported – Game behavior is consistent with Nintendo Switch.” Running the old software therefore does not give you the Expanded Edition’s new tools or performance modes.

Is the Switch 2 release Cities: Skylines II?

No. It is the original Cities: Skylines, expanded for Nintendo’s newer hardware. Cities: Skylines II is a separate sequel with its own console-development status; Paradox’s console page discusses ongoing performance and stability work and PS5 wishlisting, not a Switch 2 launch.

Keep the titles separate when buying or searching for support: the Switch 2 product discussed here is the original game’s Expanded Edition, while the PS5 product is the original game’s Remastered edition.

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What features does Switch 2 Expanded Edition add?

The main upgrade is a larger official build area plus tools that make precise construction easier. Paradox describes the limit as 25 buildable tiles, up from the original game’s nine-tile limit.

25 buildable tiles

More tiles let a city spread across a substantially larger official map area before the game’s built-in boundary stops expansion. The same 25-tile ceiling is advertised for PS5 Remastered. It is an official limit, not a guarantee that every very large city will maintain a particular frame rate.

Editing and placement tools

Expanded Edition advertises a map editor, precision placement and snapping, environmental controls and quick selection. These are interface and creation features rather than a promise of unlimited terrain or asset importing. The exact tool set is part of the Switch 2 release, not a free upgrade applied to the older Switch software.

Controller and keyboard-and-mouse input

Paradox says players can “Build with keyboard and mouse input alongside traditional controller configurations.” That gives Switch 2 a second input style for menus and detailed road or zoning work, although model-level keyboard and mouse compatibility should be confirmed for the specific accessories you plan to use.

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Portable modes

Nintendo lists TV, tabletop and handheld modes. This is the clearest reason to choose Switch 2 over PS5 or a fixed desktop: the same edition can be played away from a television without streaming from another system.

Does Switch 2 run Cities: Skylines at 60 FPS?

It has a 60 FPS target, not a documented locked 60 FPS result. The publisher’s Performance Option uses upscaling and adjusted quality settings to target 60 FPS. Quality Option targets 30 FPS and prioritizes visual fidelity.

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Mode Publisher description What is not established
Performance Targets 60 FPS with upscaling and adjusted quality settings No published resolution, minimum FPS, city-size benchmark or docked-versus-handheld measurement
Quality Targets 30 FPS with higher visual-fidelity priorities No published sustained-frame-rate test under a defined workload

Paradox’s announcement does not provide a resolution for either mode, a large-city benchmark, or measured minimum and average frame rates. It also does not supply an equivalent test scene for PS5 or PC, so claims that Switch 2 is universally faster or slower than either platform would go beyond the available evidence.

The PS5 announcement describes an overall graphical-performance increase for Remastered but gives no matching FPS target. PC performance depends on the particular processor, graphics hardware, settings, city size and installed modifications; Steam’s requirements are specifications, not a frame-rate study.

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How does Switch 2 compare with PS5 Remastered?

Switch 2 Expanded Edition and PS5 Remastered share the headline 25-tile ceiling and several editing and interface improvements. Their practical difference is where and how you play: Switch 2 supports handheld and tabletop use, while PS5 is a home-console edition.

Decision factor Switch 2 Expanded Edition PS5 Remastered
Buildable area 25 tiles 25 tiles
Advertised performance information Performance target of 60 FPS; Quality target of 30 FPS General graphical-performance increase; no comparable FPS target published
Play modes TV, tabletop and handheld PS5 home-console play
Input Controller plus advertised keyboard-and-mouse support Remastered PlayStation controls; the cited announcement does not specify Switch-style keyboard support
Content bundle 10 named DLC items included After Dark included in the base listing; other add-ons listed separately

Do not treat the PS5 base-game bundle as equivalent to Switch 2’s ten included items. PlayStation’s listing includes After Dark and presents other expansions, including Green Cities and Industries, as separately listed add-ons.

What DLC comes with Switch 2 Expanded Edition?

Paradox lists 10 included items. They are four expansions, one content-creator pack, two radio stations and three other DLC items—not ten full-size expansions.

Category Included items
Expansions After Dark; Snowfall; Green Cities; Sunset Harbor
Content-creator pack Map Pack 3
Radio stations Deep Focus Radio; Carols, Candles & Candy
Other DLC items Country Road; Pearls from the East; Match Day

PC has its own Steam downloadable-content catalog, and PS5 add-ons are listed through PlayStation. Compare the exact bundle or edition you intend to purchase rather than assuming that a DLC item on one platform transfers to another.

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Can I use mods on Switch 2?

Switch 2’s documented feature set does not include Steam Workshop access or PC-style user-created asset importing. PC is the platform with the clearly documented Workshop advantage: Steam players can import, share and download community maps, buildings and other creations.

That distinction matters more than the number of official tiles if your city depends on custom road layouts, buildings, maps or gameplay changes. Switch 2 and PS5 provide their official tool sets and bundled or separately purchased DLC, but the cited platform information does not establish a comparable open Workshop library for either console.

What are the PC requirements?

Steam lists the original game for Windows, macOS and Linux. For Windows, the listing specifies 8 GB of RAM minimum and 16 GB recommended, alongside processor and graphics requirements on the product page.

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Those figures describe supported hardware specifications, not expected FPS. They also do not prove that adding RAM will resolve every slowdown: simulation load, graphics hardware, drivers, city complexity and mods can all affect behavior. Check the current Steam listing for the complete operating-system, CPU and GPU requirements before purchasing or upgrading.

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Buying, pricing and storage details

The US publisher-announced launch suggestion for Switch 2 Expanded Edition was $49. That is not a guaranteed current price: taxes, currency conversion, regional pricing and later storefront changes can produce a different total.

Paradox also announced two time-limited offers. Qualifying owners of the original Switch game were promised a 70% loyalty discount from October 28, 2026 through April 28, 2027. A separate 10% launch discount was announced through November 10, 2026. Check the live Nintendo storefront for eligibility, regional availability and whether the promotions can be combined.

Nintendo’s US product page labels the Expanded Edition digital and lists a 6 GB file size. Allow additional storage for updates and other software; the listed size is not a promise that every future installation will remain exactly 6 GB. No verified retail cartridge release is established by that listing.

For a purchase search, use the exact product name and system filter. “Cities: Skylines” can return the older Switch edition, the Switch 2 Expanded Edition, PC listings or the unrelated sequel. Existing Switch owners should not buy a new console solely for this release; the relevant question is whether the new tools, modes and bundle justify the separate software purchase.

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Does an old Switch copy get a free Switch 2 upgrade?

No. Original-Switch owners have two separate choices:

  1. Run the older Switch edition on Switch 2 under Nintendo’s stated compatibility behavior, which remains consistent with the Switch version.
  2. Buy the separate Expanded Edition to obtain the 25-tile limit, new tools, performance options and included DLC bundle.

Paradox announced a 70% loyalty discount for qualifying owners of the original Switch game from October 28, 2026 through April 28, 2027. That is a discount, not a free upgrade. The same announcement gave a 10% launch discount through November 10, 2026. Eligibility, regional pricing and whether offers combine must be checked in the live storefront.

The publisher’s US launch announcement suggested $49 for Expanded Edition. That is a suggested launch price, not a guaranteed current transaction price in every region or after the promotional windows.

A historical PS4-to-PS5 Remastered entitlement is a separate policy and does not create a Switch-to-Switch-2 entitlement.

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Is there a physical Switch 2 version?

The cited US Nintendo listing labels Expanded Edition as digital and gives a 6 GB file size. No cartridge release is established by that listing. If a retailer advertises a physical product, verify that it is specifically the Switch 2 Expanded Edition rather than the older Switch cartridge or a different game.

What does the map editor actually mean?

The advertised map editor and environmental controls are official creation tools inside the Expanded Edition. They should not be read as Workshop support, unrestricted third-party assets or a guarantee that a map created on one platform can be exported to another. PC’s Workshop remains the documented route for downloading and sharing a large library of community-made maps, buildings and modifications.

Likewise, precision placement, snapping and quick selection improve construction workflow but do not remove the 25-tile boundary. A larger buildable area and easier placement solve different problems: the first expands the official canvas, while the second reduces the friction of laying out roads, zones and infrastructure.

Input and play-mode considerations

Switch 2 offers the broadest physical flexibility: TV, tabletop and handheld modes, with controller configurations and advertised keyboard-and-mouse input. If you plan to use a keyboard and mouse, verify the particular USB or wireless accessories and connection method, because the announcement does not certify every model.

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PS5 is a fixed home-console experience in the cited specifications. PC provides the greatest input and customization flexibility through its operating system and Workshop ecosystem, but that flexibility also means more variables to troubleshoot. Choose based on how you actually build: handheld sessions favor Switch 2, sofa play favors PS5, and extensive custom content favors PC.

Which edition should you choose?

Choose Switch 2 Expanded Edition if portability matters

Switch 2 is the documented choice for playing the original game in handheld or tabletop mode. You also get the 25-tile ceiling, official editing tools, keyboard-and-mouse input support and ten listed DLC items in one release. Select Performance when responsiveness is more important than visual fidelity, while remembering that 60 FPS is a target.

Choose PC if Workshop content is essential

PC is the strongest fit for players who want Steam Workshop maps, structures and mods. It also offers Windows, macOS and Linux versions, but actual performance varies with hardware and mod load. Compare the specific Steam bundle and your computer against the listed requirements.

Choose PS5 Remastered for a home-console 25-tile edition

PS5 Remastered provides the 25-tile ceiling and advertised graphical-performance improvements in a PlayStation environment. It is appropriate if your games library and display are already on PS5, but do not assume its DLC bundle matches Switch 2’s ten included items.

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How should you compare performance claims?

Use the publisher’s wording precisely. Switch 2 has two advertised targets; PS5 has a general improvement claim; PC has variable hardware and software configurations. There is no published apples-to-apples FPS study covering the same city, settings and workload across all three editions.

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  • Do not convert “targets 60 FPS” into “locked 60 FPS.”
  • Do not infer a PS5 frame rate from the Switch 2 target.
  • Do not assign one universal PC FPS to unspecified hardware.
  • Do not treat RAM recommendations as benchmark results.
  • Expect city size and mods to change the workload, especially on PC.

Common buying pitfalls

  • Confusing editions: Confirm “Expanded Edition” and “Nintendo Switch 2” rather than buying the older Switch game or Cities: Skylines II.
  • Assuming a free upgrade: The loyalty offer reduces the price for eligible owners; it does not convert the old copy into the new edition.
  • Counting DLC incorrectly: Ten included items include radio stations, a creator pack and smaller DLC, not ten complete expansions.
  • Reading targets as guarantees: A 60 FPS Performance target has no published minimum, resolution or city-size benchmark.
  • Expecting console Workshop access: The documented Workshop advantage belongs to Steam PC.
  • Trusting a retailer’s “physical” label: Nintendo’s cited US page lists a digital product and 6 GB download, so verify any cartridge claim separately.

What should original Switch owners check before buying?

  1. Open the storefront listing and confirm that the product name says Expanded Edition and the system says Switch 2.
  2. Decide whether running the old Switch copy is sufficient; Nintendo says its behavior remains consistent with the Switch version.
  3. Check whether you qualify for the 70% loyalty discount and whether the April 28, 2027 deadline applies in your region.
  4. Compare the listed ten DLC items with DLC you already own elsewhere; ownership and bundles are not automatically equivalent across platforms.
  5. Confirm download space. Nintendo’s US listing gives a 6 GB game file size, which can change with updates.
  6. If portability is your reason to buy, confirm that your intended play mode is TV, tabletop or handheld and that your accessories suit the chosen setup.

How we picked the distinctions in this comparison

The comparison prioritizes officially documented edition identity, buildable-tile limits, input and play modes, bundled DLC, Workshop availability, hardware requirements and clearly labeled performance claims. Where a platform does not publish a matching measurement—such as a cross-platform FPS test—the difference is identified as unknown rather than turned into a ranking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer my Cities: Skylines save from Switch to Switch 2 Expanded Edition?

The cited announcements establish compatibility for the older Switch edition and a separate Expanded Edition, but they do not promise save migration between those products. Check the game’s current support documentation before assuming a city can be imported.

Does the Switch 2 version support cloud saves?

The platform and publisher listings cited here do not specify cloud-save behavior. Verify Nintendo Switch Online and game-specific save support in the current Nintendo listing or support pages for your region.

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Will Switch 2 DLC bought for the old version carry over?

The older Switch game and Expanded Edition are separate releases, and the published information does not establish automatic DLC entitlement between them. Compare the exact DLC bundle and account terms shown at purchase.

Can I play the Switch 2 edition with a USB keyboard and mouse?

Paradox advertises keyboard-and-mouse input, but the announcement does not certify every accessory model. Confirm compatibility for your particular keyboard, mouse and connection method before buying hardware.

Is the Switch 2 map editor the same as Steam Workshop?

No equivalence is documented. The Expanded Edition includes an official map editor and environmental controls, while Steam Workshop is the documented PC system for downloading and sharing user-created maps, buildings and mods.

Does PS5 Remastered include the same ten DLC items as Switch 2?

No matching bundle is established. Switch 2 lists ten specific items, while the PlayStation base listing includes After Dark and presents other add-ons separately. Compare the exact store bundle before purchasing.

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Will a 25-tile city run smoothly in every mode?

The 25-tile figure is a buildable-area limit, not a performance guarantee. Switch 2’s 60 FPS and 30 FPS figures are targets, and no city-size, minimum-FPS or docked-versus-handheld benchmark was published.

Can I buy a cartridge version of Expanded Edition?

Nintendo’s cited US listing identifies the product as digital and lists a 6 GB file size. It does not verify a cartridge release, so check any retailer listing carefully for the exact Switch 2 edition.

Is the 70% loyalty discount available to every Switch owner?

Paradox announced it for qualifying owners of the original Switch game from October 28, 2026 through April 28, 2027. Eligibility, region and storefront conditions must be confirmed at checkout.

The Bottom Line

Choose Switch 2 Expanded Edition for portability, official 25-tile building tools and its ten-item DLC bundle. Choose PC for Steam Workshop maps, assets and mods. Choose PS5 Remastered for a home-console version with the same advertised 25-tile ceiling. Switch 2’s 60 FPS and 30 FPS figures are targets, not locked results, and the old Switch copy is compatible but not a free upgrade.

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